Come Back for Me (Arrowood Brothers #1)(87)

“Why is that?”

“Because you lost parents who were good people. You’ve made the choices you probably wouldn’t have made because of that night.”

“And so have you. All of you. This is my only request. I’d like the five of us to be a family. I want Hadley to know her uncles and . . . I hope you’ll love her.”

Sean smiles, sits forward, and puts his hand on my and Connor’s hands. “I vow to forgive.”

Jacob follows, his hand covering his brother’s. “I vow to protect this family, as insane as it is.”

Connor’s other hand goes to the top. “I vow to love you.”

Sean makes a choking noise.

Declan is the only one who still sits back. He watches Connor, and the two of them seem to speak without opening their mouths. Finally, Declan leans forward. “I vow to move forward—as a family.”

This moment, this fragment in time, is something I will never forget. Here, holding hands with these men I just met, I feel at home.

They all did what I asked, and I pray that we can all find our way through the next however long with nothing hanging over us.

A tear pricks, not from sadness but from the beauty that this all is.

All four Arrowood brothers turn their gazes to me. “Oh, I’m supposed to vow?” Connor winks at me with a grin. “Okay then. I vow to let go of all the past sins and do everything you already said.”

After a second, they all remove their hands, and then Sean releases a heavy breath. “You know, you better marry that girl, Connor, or I just might.”

My heart accelerates at even the suggestion, so I pretend I didn’t hear it and decide I will get through the trial before I allow myself to even consider it as a possibility.

Connor laughs once and then shrugs. “One day, I’ll break the bow.”

I smile at him. “And then maybe your shot will hit the target.”

“I think it already has.”

“I think so too.”

Just then, the door flies open, loud footsteps echo down the hall, and in comes Hadley, skidding to a stop when she sees everyone at the table. I watch her take in the scene and before I can do anything, Connor handles it. “Hey, Squirt, you’re here a little early. We have a special surprise for your birthday. Remember how I told you that I have three brothers?”

She nods.

“Well, they were so excited that they’re your uncles and wanted to meet you.”

“Uncles?”

Connor heads over toward her. “Yes, you already met Declan. He’s my oldest brother.”

He winks at her. “He loves the tree house,” Hadley mentions.

“You should definitely show it to him again,” Connor encourages.

Then the other brothers walk over to where we stand.

“The tall one with the ugly hair is your uncle Jacob.” Connor drops his voice to a whisper. “He thinks he’s super special because he’s on television.”

“No way!” she yells and then waves at him.

Before Connor can introduce Sean to her, he squats down and hands her a cookie. “I’m your uncle Sean. And I’m the best one out of all of them.”

Her eyes narrow on the sugary goodness in his hand before she grins. “I like you.”

Connor wraps his arm around my shoulders and chuckles. “You like him now, but don’t let him know your fears.”

Hadley nestles herself against Connor’s side, her shyness is something I rarely see. “Are you all here for my birthday?”

“We are,” Jacob says. “In the car, I have the biggest present for you.”

Hadley looks to us and then to her uncles. “I really like your brothers, Daddy.”

And I think it’s Connor who got the best present of all.





Chapter Thirty-Nine


Connor





I hold Ellie’s hand as we sit in the courtroom. The hearing is over, and we are waiting for the verdict. Nate did an exceptional job painting Kevin as a cruel husband who abused his wife and threatened Hadley.

It was incredibly hard to listen to Ellie recount the times he hit her, how he used her, and how he tore her down emotionally. It took everything in me not go over the rail and choke him myself.

Of course, it was even harder to hear his attorney paint Ellie as a whore who was having an affair with me, even though that isn’t even remotely close to the truth. Hadley being my daughter, though, did little to help our case.

However, all of us spoke the truth, and thankfully, Nate was able to have Hadley speak to the judge in chambers instead of subjecting her to the actual trial.

“Are you ready?” Nate asks from his desk.

Ellie does her best to smile. “I’m . . . not sure, but regardless there will be a restraining order, right?”

“Yes, a permanent restraining order has already been granted for both you and Hadley.”

She looks to me, and I give her a reassuring smile. It’s little comfort to her, I know this, but I will never let that motherfucker near her. If he wants to break it, I’ll be happy to break his face. Though, there is already a for sale sign up on his property, so I doubt we’ll ever see him again regardless.

The trial took a lot out of us. We were stressed, but at home, I did everything I could to ease her worries. I hated seeing her nervous and unsure, hated seeing that Kevin had the ability to keep hurting her while he was locked up.